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Thursday, January 9, 2014

Kansas federal gun prosecutions ranked third in 2013

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Kansas ranked third in the nation in fiscal year 2013 in the number of federal firearms cases prosecuted, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Justice Department statistics show that among the 94 judicial districts nationwide only the District of Puerto Rico and the Western District of Missouri filed more federal firearms cases is FY 2013.

“Fighting gun violence and protecting the safety of our law enforcement officers are two of our top priorities,” Grissom said.

In FY 2013, Grissom’s office filed a total of 298 firearms cases, compared to 291 cases in FY 2012, when the District of Kansas also ranked third in the nation. In FY 2011, the District of Kansas ranked first in the nation with a total of 279 firearms cases filed.

Justice Department statistics show that in FY 2013 the District of Puerto Rico filed 349 firearms cases and the Western District of Missouri filed 299 firearms cases.

The totals include charges filed under federal statutes 18 U.S.C. 922 and 924, which prohibit convicted felons from possessing firearms and make it a federal crime to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking or crimes of violence.